REACTIONS IN MICROEMULSION FORMED BY SODIUM DODECYL-SULFATE, WATER, AND HEXANOL

The reactions, oxidation of iodide by persulfate and basic hydrolysis of crystal violet, were investigated in the w/o microemulsion formed by sodium dodecyl sulfate, water, and hexanol. The second order rate constants were measured as a function of water to surfactant molar ratio and hexanol content. The increased rates were attributed to the smaller droplet size of the water pools. The rates are shown to be controlled by the water content as well as the hexanol content. It is shown that the manner in which the rate is affected applies to the catalyzed as well as the retarded reactions. This system is shown to be more effective than the AOT/water/decane system. © 1993 by Academic Press, Inc.